Vila Nova de Gaia

Going to Gaia! 

Gaia is the village across the Douro River from Porto. You head here for Port Wine Cellar Tours and to see the beautiful sunset over Porto's Ribera District. Camden expressed with a lot of enthusiasm the things he wanted to do once we arrived - and one of those things was taking the train! Always one to love checking out a cities public transportation system, we navigated Metro do Porto from our closest train station at Campo 24 Agosto, changed lines at Trindade and over the Dom Luis 1 Bridge we sped to our final stop General Torres. 

Crossing this iconic bridge either by train or on foot (preferably one of each!) is a great thing to do in Porto. The upper level is for the metro and the lower level is for cars and pedestrians. Getting off at General Torres and walking towards Taylor's afforded us a peaceful walk with gorgeous views across the Douro looking back at Porto.

After Taylor Fladgate and Pink Palace we made a spontaneous stop into Fonseca. (It was right there!) What can I say we were on a roll. Fonseca has a port and chocolate pairing so indeed more fun for the kids was had. (We drank the port, the boys got some chocolate.) 

We headed downhill from the terracotta-topped port wine warehouses to Cais de Gaia. This did involve folding up the stroller and carrying it down some staircases.

Cais means pier so now we are on the Gaia waterfront; a district teeming with excitement. There's live music, marching bands, cute shops and lots of restaurants. The boys got some ice cream and a toy each (a Porto cable car and a TukTuk)! We got draft Super Bocks and listened to a band before settling in for a traditional Portuguese dinner at Beira Rio. I had a glass of white wine from Douro (the pours are bigger here, right?) and Bacalhau. More specifically Bolinhos de bacalhau which are salt cod croquettes made with a mixture of potatoes, bacalhau (codfish), eggs, parsley and onion. Ryder loved these too and here began one of his favorite words to say on the trip. B A C A L H A U. Super cute. Both boys ate lots of french fries. That's a great thing about Portugal: restaurants always have simple, medium cut, golden yellow French fries on the menu. Camden probably survived on them. 

The sun is setting and Camden has fallen fast asleep in the stroller. Ryder took a long nap earlier so he's awake for shopping at The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine and some truly wonderful cocktails at House of Sandeman on The Terrace Bar. Mine had Basil, Bob's had a a toasted marshmallow! We crossed the Eiffel Tower inspired (it was designed by a disciple of Gustaf Eiffel) Dom Luis 1 Bridge on foot and our epic day in Gaia has come full circle back to Porto!

It's Monaco (€9) Porto Sandeman Beat White infusionado com Marshmallow, Sumo de Limão, Cranberry Juice, Brown Sugar Syrup, Egg White and Caramelized Marshmallow

Le Centaure (€12) Sandeman Beat White, Gin Grennall’s, Sumo de Limão, Xarope de Açúcar, Macerated Basil and Ginger and Basil Leaf

Vinhos do Porta Fonseca

Rua do Chopelo, 84

4400-187 Vila Nova de Gaia

Beira Rio

Av. de Diogo Leite, 64

4400-111 Vila Nova de Gaia

The Sandeman Terrace

Largo Miguel Bombarda, 67

4404-507 Vila Nova de Gaia

Porto | Portugal + Travel w Kids

We traveled to Porto, Lisbon and Lagos, Portugal from September 8th - 18th. We also visited Nazaré and Coimbra on our journey. We have travelled with our kids before but to Europe with two felt like a family milestone! We flew into Porto via Madrid on Iberia as those flights were the most cost effective. Quick International layovers build character and stamina! Ryder is under two but he absolutely gets his own seat for a 7 hour flight. We rented a car and spent two nights in Porto before continuing south to the nations capitol followed by the Algarve Coast.

Portugal is without contest one of my favorite places on this earth now. And my kids, my favorite people to travel with. (Bob too of course!) Kids are still kids and toddlers are still toddlers no matter where you go. (Mine are 4.5 and 1.5). Keep your expectations even and they will probably surpass them. I was infinitely proud and we had so much fun. They will be the best version of themselves when you are the best version of yourself. So to that I say: take them everywhere. 

We travel with the boys car seats. Camden's toddler seat goes in a large travel bag that also has backpack straps and is checked luggage for free. Ryder's infant car seat comes with us on the stroller through security. His car seat is then gate checked along with our stroller which folds into a bag on wheels. (We always make sure to get two gate check tags: 1) stroller 2) infant car seat. We do not bring the extremely heavy car seat base. We strap the car seat in using the seatbelt method which is safe and secure. 

What initially feels daunting and logistically challenging about travelling with kids becomes habit and is easy. This method of travelling with our own car seats works best for us! 

In all 3 locations we stayed at an Airbnb. My top amenities for travelling at this stage in life are are: Crib. Elevator. Laundry.

I made sure to search for a crib in the amenities and communicated this to our hosts. All 3 had the pack in play set up and with fresh sheets upon our arrival! (It was not this simple when we traveled to Italy with baby Camden.) Either times have changed or the Portuguese are incredibly accommodating to babies. I think it is a little of both. 

An elevator is not a deal breaker. But it is good to know what to expect in your apartment building. Most Airbnb descriptions will list if they have one or not. In Porto we were in a penthouse up 5 flights. In Lisbon we were on the 3rd floor. Accommodations with elevators when you have luggage, little kids and a stroller - win. 

The final must have amenity in the second and third spots was a washer. This enabled us to pack light - one checked suitcase for the entire family. We had carry on bags with a change of clothes, kid stuff, and admittedly a larger back pack for Bob but ONE checked suitcase with the ability to do laundry worked out well. I had one packing cube for each kid in our checked luggage. I was proud of this!

Besides packing light in our one checked bag, I stuffed the boys carry-on full of goodies: a couple new things and favorite snacks. A fresh set of markers in a travel carrying case and mini coloring books were a big hit. Ryder loved this busy board and ink magic book. Ever since our last flight Camden insisted on travelling with his very own rolly suitcase. It made for an enthusiastic, happy, self reliant traveler and seeing him take on this responsibility by his own accord was cute to witness.  He unpacked and packed his belongings at each new destination with a sense of pride. This is what I love about travelling with your kids - you learn so much about them. You see them becoming cool little people and you see what matters to them. 

I did not pack toys because I knew we would buy them a few things. When a little tourist shop and a new toy equal a "relaxing" dinner for mom and dad, you get the new toy. (There's my secret BUY YOUR KIDS STUFF.) No but think about it - when you travel do you like to shop? Sometimes! My kids can have a new toy and off go their imaginations so I'm happy to oblige. Also a big hit - WikkiStix. I bought them for the flight but we never took them out until dinner one night in Lisbon. 

Final kids tip before we get into it: SNACKS. Snacks make kids happy and new snacks in new places are pretty exciting. If your kids are snacking at home, you can expect they will want to do the same on the go in a new city.

Now that you've landed - passports stamped - bags claimed - shuttled over and settled up with the rental car agency - have the car seats securely installed - navigated to your destination - found street parking - checked into your Airbnb: hopefully your kids are fighting off the jet lag with an afternoon stroller nap! Your first order of business in Porto (and this is an order) is a draft Super Bock and a Francesinha at a local Tasca. An espresso can bookend this in either order. 

Porto is i n c r e d i b l e - all the Port tastings and more surprises soon!!

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